MODULAR DISPENSING DEVICES

• US 20140263425A1
• Filed: 03/15/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hero Health, Inc. (Hero Health IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Makefield LLC
• Inventors: Akdogan, Kutadgu, Vepuri, Kalyan C., Von Heifner, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 9,358,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0076 Medicament distribution means with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/02 Pill counting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0454 Controlling adsorption controlling temperature swing adsorption B01D53/0462, controlling pressure swing adsorption B01D53/047
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/261 by adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/268 the absorber being enclosed in a small pack, e.g. bag, included in the package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0409 the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation B65D83/0445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/32 in combination with an identity check
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A dispensing device is improved through the inclusion of modular components, for example, mechanical interfaces to couple to a container and a base. The modular dispensing device may also include communication systems related to the container and the base. Specifically, the modular dispensing device may receive information such as the contents of the container (e.g., quantity, identity, etc.) and a schedule for dispensing the contents. Using this information, the modular dispensing device may control the dispensing of the contents of the container.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first mechanical interface configured to removably and replaceably couple to a container of consumables;

a first communication interface configured to receive data from the container relating to a number of consumables in the container when the device is coupled to the container through the first mechanical interface;

a second mechanical interface configured to removably and replaceably couple to a base;

a second communication interface configured to receive a schedule for dispensing the consumables from the base when the device is coupled to the base through the second mechanical interface;

a memory storing the number of consumables and the schedule; and

a user input actuatable by a user to dispense one of the consumables from the container.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a machine input configured to receive a signal from the base when coupled to the base, and to responsively control the container to dispense one of the consumables.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a locking mechanism to securely retain the device in a predetermined alignment in the base.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a processor.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a display configured to display the number of consumables in the container.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising an output device to notify the user of a time to take one of the consumables according to the schedule, the output device including one or more of a buzzer, a speaker, and a light-emitting diode.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a network communications device configured to notify the user of a time to take one of the consumables according to the schedule, the communications device transmitting a notification using at least one of a text message, an electronic mail, a VoIP message, a push notification to a mobile device application, and a telephone message.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the container includes one or more sensors to detect the number of consumables and circuitry to communicate the number to the device.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the container includes one or more sensors configured to detect a dispensation of one of the consumables and circuitry to communicate a notification of the dispensation to the device.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect a dispensation of one of the consumables from the container.

14. The device of claim 1 further comprising a wearable accessory coupled in a communicating relationship with the base and configured to provide a notification to a wearer based upon the schedule.

15. The device of claim 1 further comprising a processor configured to retrieve an update to the schedule from the base in response to coupling the device to the base.

16. The device of claim 1 further comprising a processor configured to provide consumables delivery data to the base when the device is coupled to the base.

17. The device of claim 1 further comprising a processor configured to receive expiration data for the consumables when the device is coupled to the base.

11-13. -13. (canceled)

18. A computer program product comprising computer executable code embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computing devices, performs the steps of:

detecting an insertion of a cartridge containing consumables into a base;

reading a numeric amount of the consumables from the cartridge and communicating the numeric amount to the base; and

reading a schedule for medication from the base and communicating a portion of the schedule relating to the consumables in the cartridge to the cartridge.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the cartridge includes a container for the consumables and a removable and replaceable housing for the container that provides an electro-mechanical interface configured to removably and replaceably couple to the base.

20. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising code that performs the step of displaying the numeric amount on a display of the cartridge.

21. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising code that performs the step of providing an audio output including the numeric amount in spoken form.

22. The computer program product of claim 18 further code that performs the step of issuing a notification from the cartridge based upon the predetermined schedule, the notification including one or more of a display, a sound, and a vibration.

23. The computer program of claim 18 further comprising code that performs the step of storing the schedule and the numeric amount in a memory independent from the base for independent operation of the cartridge when uncoupled from the base.

24-58. -58. (canceled)